Darren Sabedra: When Valley Christian, Mitty meet, it's all in the family

The competition among football teams is so fierce in the West Catholic Athletic League that participants don't have much time to get caught up in the hoopla of unique storylines.

Such is the case for Eric Scharrenberg.

He is the defensive coordinator at Valley Christian. His nephew, Trenton Scharrenberg, is the quarterback at Archbishop Mitty. Friday night at Valley Christian, their teams meet in another big WCAL game. Mitty is No. 2 in the Mercury News rankings; Valley Christian is sixth.

So, what has it been like this week preparing to stop a family member?

"Honestly, it has not been as strange as some might imagine," Scharrenberg, a former St. Francis standout, said in an email. "The league is so tough that you don't have much time to focus on the 'special things' about the week.

"For me in this league there is a new special thing every week -- whether it's playing the defending champs, my alma mater, the top-ranked team in the section, etc."

Valley Christian struggled on defense last season but has gotten better with Scharrenberg's return to the coaching staff this fall. The Warriors are coming off a 21-0 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral.

"I know it is cliché, but we are really focused on ourselves and our desire to become a physical, disciplined defense," Scharrenberg said. "In that respect, it has been pretty easy to see Trenton as another quarterback on our schedule we need to defend."

Leland coach Jake Shaughnessy knows the challenge that awaits his team Friday night -- trying to figure a way to slow down a Piedmont Hills team that has scored 185 points in its three wins.

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"I don't think that you slow their offense down," Shaughnessy said. "I think you do the best you can."

The game is a big one for both teams. Leland opened Blossom Valley Athletic League Mount Hamilton Division play last week with a 48-7 rout of defending champion Oak Grove. Piedmont Hills beat Sobrato 55-7.